Impending return of Reds outfielder Stuart Fairchild raises roster questions

Stuart Fairchild was slated to be part of the Louisville Bats lineup on Saturday night versus the Indianapolis Indians, but the outfielder was a late-scratch and was replaced by outfielder Nick Martini.

According to Lance McAlister of 700 WLW, Fairchild is headed back to Cincinnati. However, an official roster update has yet to made.

This is very curious development and could mean any number of things. Fans of the Cincinnati Reds will be tuned in very early today to see what corresponding move may take place before the series finale against the San Diego Padres.

Impending return of Reds outfielder Stuart Fairchild raises roster questions.

More than likely, if the Cincinnati Reds recall Stuart Fairchild today, someone has suffered an injury. Curt Casali hasn't appeared in a game since June 26th against the Baltimore Orioles, and Tyler Stephenson has started three straight games, so perhaps the veteran catcher is nursing an undisclosed injury.

After a three-hit performance in Baltimore ealier this week, TJ Friedl has been 0-for-10 in the last two games. Is the Reds centerfielder, who just came off the IL recently, battling through a lingering injury of his own. Who knows?

Some fans will immediately assume that a trade has taken place. While that could be true, these types of things tend to leak pretty quickly, so the fanbase would have likely heard something by now.

Cincinnati does, by recalling Stuart Fairchild so quickly, preserve the outfielder's remaining minor league option. According to MLB.com, until a player spends 20 days in the minors, his option retained. To date, Fairchild has spent just 11 days in the minor leagues.

The Reds could decide to option one of their infielders like Kevin Newman or Nick Senzel back to Triple-A. As it stands, neither player is seeing time in the Reds starting lineup unless a left-handed pitcher is on the mound. Senzel has a bit more positional flexibility.

We'll find out in short order what the Cincinnati Reds front office has in store. But all signs point to Stuart Fairchild returning, which means a corresponding move is on the horizon.